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3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model) B. F. G. H.,FAURE, J. MAGHAFPIE &-S. H. LIBBY.

CONTROLLER FOR ELEGTRIG SEARCH LIGHTS. No. 539,863.

Patented May 28, 1895.

Wnrlzsacs (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. F. G. H. PAURE, J. MAGHAFFIE& S. H. LIBBY.

GONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SEARCH LIGHTS. No. 539,863. Patented May 28,1895.

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(No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. F. G. H. PAURE, J. MAGHAFPIE 8v S. H.LIBBY. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SEARCH LIGHTS.

No. 539,863. Patented May 28, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIE F. G. H. FAURE, JOHN MAOHAFFIE, AND SAM I'l. LIBBY, OF SCHENEO-TADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC SEARCH-LIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,863, dated May 28,1895. Application filed January 29, 1895. Serial No. 536,617. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it WZCLZ/ concern:

Be it known that we, ELIE F. G. H. FAURE, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, JOHN MAOHAFFIE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and SAMH. LIBBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, inthe county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Controllers for Electric Search- Lights, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The objects of our invention are, first, to provide a controlling standhaving one handle for operating both the horizontal and verticalmovements of a search light, operating either separately orsimultaneously, (in the latter case a motion in a diagonal directionwould be imparted theretog) second, to provide means for stopping themovement of the search light instantly and automatically; third, to soconstruct the parts that the direction of movement of the handle willindicate the direction which the beam of light will travel.

Briefly, the method of operation of our apparatus is as follows: Twomotors are mounted in the base of a search light, and provided withsuitable belts or gears connecting them with the horizontal and verticalmoving parts of the search light. The controlling stand for these motorsmay be located at any convenient point where the operator may have anunobstructed view. The motor fields are connected in shunt to the maindynamo, and the current through the armature is varied by suitableresistance.

In operating search lights it is desirable to be able to bring them to astop instantly, as a very small angular movement at the light will makean immense amount of movement of the beam several miles distance. Toaccomplish this, we cut resistance into the armature circuit and thenshort-circuit it,which brings it to astop instantly. We do not, however,claim this method of control.

Our invention relates to certain mechanical features to be more fullyexplained hereinafter.

Although the invention is described in connection with a search light,We do not limit ourselves to this, for it is equally applicable to thecontrol of motors when used in connection with other apparatus.

To attain the ends pointed out, we mount two ring-shaped castings havinginsulated resistance contacts thereon, on a suitable base. Thesecontacts have brushes engaging therewith, which are mounted on suitablespindles operated by means of a circular rack and pinion in one case,and by beveled gears in the other. Springs are provided in both cases tobring the brushes back to the off position the moment the pressure isremoved from the operating handle. The operating spindle is composed inpart of a circular rack with which the pinion operating one set ofbrushes eugages. Around the upper part of the spindle is a bevel-gearprovided with a sleeve extending upward through the cover of the box.Engaging with this bevel-gear is a similar one mounted on a shaft atright angles thereto operating a second set of brushes. A collar issecured to the sleeve surrounding the spindle, and from this projects alug which forms a bearing for the end of the operating handle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation partly insection. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover removed. Fig. 3 is an endview looking from the left. Fig. 4: is a detail showing certain partsbroken away. Fig. 5 is a detail view, and Fig. 6 is a diagram ofconnections.

A is the inclosing case.

B is the cover, and O is a flange preventing the splashing of waterintothe inclosing case.

The cast iron rings D, D" are mounted on a suitable base E, and areprovided with contacts which are suitably insulated from each other andfrom the rings D, D by insulating rings D D The brushes engaging withthese contacts are made of two metal pieces, enabling them to make goodcontact when the contacts a become worn. These are carried by a holderF, mounted on a shaft F and tending to be forced outwardly by means ofsprings d, d. The shaft F is mounted with bearings G G which aresupported by the ring D.

To prevent lateral displacement of the shaft F, collars Q Q are madethereon which engage with the bearings G G On the end of the shaft F ismounted a segmental gear H engaging with the circular rack Ion thespindle J.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the spindle J has a collarf surrounding whichis a sleeve g having an external flange h engaging with the innersurface of the cage K. On the lower end of the spindle J is a similarconstruction, except that a nut '5 takes the place of the collar F. Aspring j tends to keep the flanges h h in engagement with the ends ofthe cage K.

To regulate the amount of movement of either g or g, a sleeve g 'ismounted on the spindle J and between 9 and 9.

When, for example, the handleLis thrown 1 down, it forces the spindle Jdownward and compresses the spring j until the sleeve h engages with thesleeve 9 On relieving the pressure on the handle L, it immediately fliesback to its normal position, and the arrangement of the parts is such,that when the flange h engages with the top of the cage K, the spindlewill stop, for any continued movement would serve to compress the springfrom the opposite end. The converse of this is also.

4 Above the cover of the box is a collar M rigidly attached to thesleeve M and 'havin g a projection extending therefrom forming a bearingfor the end of the handle L. The gear M en'- gages with a similarbevel-gear N on the shaft at rightangles thereto, the said shaftcarrying a brush holder and brushes engaging with a set of contactssimilar to those described "in conmotion with the ring D". To bring thegears back to their normal position, a device similar to that describedwith the vertical movement is utilized, the only difference being'tha'tthe cage K is hinged to the frame 0, to allow the point of pivot is totravel in the arc of a circle. The contacts on ring D being connected inthe proper manner, any movement of the handle L, either right or left,will cause the brushes to make the desired connections, and the instantthe handle is released,it will fly back to its normal position, due tothe action of the spring, as "previously described. A switch P ismounted on the base E to open and close the circuit.

It being desirable to have the handle L indicate as far as possible thedirection of the beam, the contacts on D are connected to the motor,which imparts motion to the search light in the vertical plane, whilethose on ring D are connected to the motor giving a movement in thehorizontal plane.

Referring to Fig. 6, T is the drum o'fa'pro- Q jector and q q are thecontact rings permanently connected therewith. S is the generator, and Ris a resistance regulating the current flowing in the lamp. The fieldsof motors 1 and 2 are permanently connected in shunt to the maingenerator S, the switch P serving to interrupt the circuit in thecontroller.

The contacts a and c are mounted on the outer insulating rings D andcontacts I) b are mounted on the inner insulating rings D A currententering the controller by closingthe switch P would flow through thefield of motor 1 or 2, depending on which way the operating handle wasthrown, or a current would divide and flow through both motors if thehandle L-were thrown down, and at the same time to the right or left,the same would be true if the handle were raised, and by so doing adiagonal motion would be imparted to the Searchlight; the angles of thediagonal depending upon the relative speed given the two motors.

What we claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted tocontrol two motors, separately or simultaneously, with springs adaptedto be compressed by a movement of the handle in any direction, andacting to bring said handle back to'the ofi position.

2. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to movesimultaneously'in a horizontal and vertical plane, thereby imparting adiagonal motion to the handle and springs acting to bring the handleback "to its normal position.

'3. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to movefrom its normal position'in a horizontal and vertical plane, withcompression springs mounted in cages and acting to bring the handle backto its normal position.

4. The combination in a controller, of a switch handle adapted to moveabove and below its normal 'plane, with a spring adapted to becompressed from either end bya move ment up or down of the said handle.

5. In asingle handle controller fortwo motors, the combination of acircular rack, a'pine ion gear engaging with the rack, and adapted tooperate the contact brushes for varying the resistance in one motorcircuit when actuated in a. vertical plane, and remaining idle withrespectto said contact brushes when the bandle is moved in a horizontalplane, to vary the resistance in the second motor circuit.

6. In a controller for electric search lights,

the combination of acircular operating rack, a compression springmounted in a cage tending'to keep said rack, in its normal position,with means within the cage for limiting the movement of the rack, apinion gear engaging with said rack, and adapted to operate con- "tactbrushes-for varying the resistance in the armature circuit.

7. In a controller for electric search lights IIO I'I'S the combinationof a'switch handle adapted to indicate by its relative angular positionthe position of the beam, with compression springs mounted in cages withmeans therein for limiting the angular movement of the handle, saidsprings tending to hold the handle in its central position.

8. In a controller for electric search lights, the combination ofresistance contacts operated by bevel-gears, a spring-actuated rodpivoted to one of said gears for returning them to an intermediateposition, said rod being mounted in a cage pivoted at one end, and meanswithin the cage for limiting the movement of said rod.

9. In a controller for electric search lights, the combination of ahandle adapted to indicate by its relative angular position the positionof the beam, two sets of resistance contacts, brushes for said contactsoperated bya rack and pinion in one case, and by bevel gears in theother, and compression springs mounted in cages and arranged to returnthe brushes to their normal positions.

10. A search light operated by electric motors, in combination with acontroller having a switch handle for controlling said motors, adaptedto indicate by its relative angular position the angle of the beam.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 19th day ofJanuary, 1895.

ELIE F. G. H. FAURE. JOHN MAOHAFFIE. SAM H. LIBBY. \Vitnesses:

B. B. HULL, A. F. MACDONALD.

